PORT CHESTER, N.Y. – A Port Chester man is accused of menacing family members with a rifle in the apartment they share Monday, police said.

The initial report described Maurice Patterson, 63, as an emotionally disturbed person, but Port Chester Police Chief Richard Conway said he is not. If the defendant was, the incident would have been treated as a medical case instead of a criminal case, Conway said.

The report also said Patterson was threatening people with a shot gun, which turned out to be a Marlin Glenfield 30-caliber lever action rifle.

Conway said the defendant brandished the weapon in the direction of his family members, who he is living with in their apartment on South Main Street.

“It could have easily become a major incident. It had the potential to be much worse than it was,” Conway said.

The incident drew seven police officers to the apartment building. But, as they arrived, Patterson left. Police caught up with him more than a block away from the apartment and found him carrying a large bag holding the rifle.

He was arrested without incident and charged with second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor, Conway said.